Timeline

1452

2nd October 1452Richard of York bornRichard was born at Fotheringhay Castle. He was the twelfth of thirteen children born to Richard, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville. As a child he would have been known as 'Richard of York'.

1460

30th December 1460The Battle of WakefieldThe Duke of York leaves his stronghold at Sandal Castle and encounters the Lancastrian army under the duke of Somerset and Lord Clifford. Wakefield was a decisive Lancastrian victory during the War of the Roses.Read more...

1461

29th March 1461The Battle of TowtonThe battle of Towton, North Yorkshire, was fought amidst the blistering cold and snow. The Yorkists fired arrows deep into the Lancastrian lines and, blinded by the snow, the Lancastrians were unable to respond, instead instigating indecisive hand-to-hand combat. Chroniclers contend that the fighting lasted longer than 10 hours, and after the battle England had a new king: Edward IV.Read more...

1st November 1461Richard granted the Dukedom of GloucesterAfter the coronation of his brother as Edward IV in June 1461 Richard was granted the title of Duke of Gloucester.

1462

1462Childhood in MiddlehamFollowing the death of his father Richard was put under the protection of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and from the ages of 9-12 spent much time at Neville's castle at Middleham in Wensleydale, Yorkshire where he learnt manly skills such as sword-fighting and horse-riding.Read more...

12th August 1462Richard begins to acquire a princely estateRichard was granted the lordships of Richmond in Yorkshire and Pembroke in Wales, as well as estates in East Anglia.

2nd October 1462Governor of the NorthOn his birthday Richard was appointed Governor of the North, and also Constable of Gloucester and Corfe Castles. All these gifts made him one of the richest and therefore most powerful nobles in England. As Governor of the North he represented royal interests in securing the loyalty of the North for Edward IV's new Yorkist dynasty.

1467

November 1467Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, changes sidesFrom the autumn of 1467 rumours began to spread that Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick was no longer a supporter of Edward IV.

1469

April 1469Robin of Redesdale's RebellionPopular discontent with Edward IV's government fuelled a rebellion in Yorkshire, almost certainly instigated by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and led by Yorkshire gentry.

July 1469Lancastrian plotsMore plots were uncovered revealing Warwick's supporters in conspiracies to restore Henry VI to the throne.

July 1469George joins the rebellion against his brothers, Edward IV and RichardGeorge, Duke of Clarence and brother of Edward IV and Richard, joined Warwick's rebellion and sailed with him to Calais where he married Warwick's eldest daughter, Isabel Neville. Returning to England they raised forces in the south to join the rebels in Yorkshire.

August 1469Edward IV imprisoned in Middleham CastleAfter being defeated in battle by rebel forces Edward IV was imprisoned first in Warwick Castle and then in Middleham until continuing disorder led to his release in September.Read more...

17th October 1469Constable of EnglandFollowing his recovery of power Edward IV began to build up his supporters. Richard was appointed Constable of England, and the following month, Chief Justice of North Wales

1470

13th September 1470The defeat of Edward IVAttempts at a reconciliation between Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick failed. Warwick, together with George Duke of Clarence, fled to France. Once again Warwick used his powerbase in Yorkshire to stir up a new rebellion against the Yorkists and built a strong alliance to restore Henry VI to the throne.They landed in Portsmouth in September and succeeded in forcing Edward IV into exile. Henry VI was restored to the throne, but his government was controlled by the Earl of Warwick ('the Kingmaker').

2nd October 1470Exile in FlandersEdward IV and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, fled to the Low Countries.

1471

11th March 1471Return to YorkshireEdward and Richard set sail for England to retake the throne for Edward. Storms blew them off course and they landed at Ravenspur in Holderness (now lost to coastal erosion), East Yorkshire, instead of East Anglia which was a stronghold of Yorkist support. They were not allowed to enter Hull and were admitted to the City of York only after Edward claimed that he was only seeking to win back his title to the Dukedom of York, not the throne of England.

14th April 1471The death of Richard Neville, Earl of WarwickAfter a short military campaign, in which Richard Duke of Gloucester acted as lieutenant to his brother Edward IV, Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick was killed at the battle of Barnet.

4th May 1471Edward IV restoredEdward, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VI, was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury. The defeat of the Lancastrian forces was followed by the restoration of Edward IV to the throne and Henry VI was confined to the Tower of London.

18th May 1471Restoration to Power: Lieutenant of the NorthEdward IV rapidly set about expanding Richard's titles, wealth and authority by transferring to him many of the titles and land previously enjoyed by Richard Earl of Warwick. As Richard neared the age of 21 he was appointed to a series of military positions in the north and west of Edward's Kingdom as High Sheriff of Cumberland, Lieutenant of the North and Commander-in Chief against the Scots, and Warden of the West Marches. He was also appointed Great Chamberlain and Lord High Admiral of England.

1472

February 1472Richard and Anne NevilleAlthough apparently reconciled to Edward IV, George Duke of Clarence resented Richard's acquisition of former Neville lands and titles and opposed Richard's betrothal to his sister-in-law, Anne Neville. Anne had been held in virtual 'house arrest' by George after the death of her first husband, Edward Prince of Wales, at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471. In February 1472 Richard 'rescued' her and proposed.

12th July 1472Richard married Anne NevilleRichard married Anne Neville, the younger daughter of Richard Earl of Warwick, at Westminster Abbey. Through this marriage Richard was to assume much of the former Earl of Warwick's power base in the North including his magnificent castle at Middleham, where he had spent some of his childhood.

14th July 1472Sheriff HuttonRichard was confirmed in possession of the late Earl of Warwick's castles at Sheriff Hutton and Middleham in Yorkshire and Penrith in Cumberland.Read more...

1473

May 1473Henry Percy, Earl of NorthumberlandThe Percy family were traditional rivals of the Nevilles in the north. In taking over the northern Neville lands Richard inherited this rivalry and perpetuated it in his acquistion of offices traditionally held by the Percies. The rivalry was halted however by an agreement imposed by the king's council and sealed when Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland became one of Richard, Duke of York's retainers. This astute move substantially strengthened Richard's position in the North.

June 1473Securing the Middleham inheritanceRichard's mother-in-law, Anne de Beauchamp, left sanctuary to live in Middleham with her daughter and Richard. This strengthened Richard and Anne's claims to her parents' estates against other potential heirs including her cousin George, and her sister Isabel who was married to Richard's brother George, Duke of Clarence.Read more...

1474

1474Dispute between Richard and George over Neville castlesThroughout 1471-5 the two brothers continued to quarrel over the division of the Neville estates, and especially over core strongholds such as Barnard Castle and Richmond.

1474Durham PrioryRichard and Anne were admitted to the fraternity of the cathedral priory at Durham, reflecting both a veneration for St Cuthbert and an increasing reconcilation with the Bishop of Durham, another regional rival to Richard's authority in the North.

1475

1475Richard acquires all the Neville lands in the NorthAfter an attempt at the reconciliation of Richard and his brother George in their dispute over the Neville inheritance, Richard was confirmed in possession of all the Neville lands in the north, securing his dominance in the region.

1476

31st December 1476Richard III given six swans and six pikesThis was one of the first recorded of many gifts given by the City of York to Richard: a sign that he was using his influence in the north to win the support of the City Council.

1477

1477Richard III and Anne Neville join the Corpus Christi GuildThe Guild was one of the largest and most prestigious in the city of York, attracting members from across the city, the county and beyond. Richard's mother, Cecily, had joined in 1455. The guild played a prominent part in the annual Corpus Christi processions which were associated with the city's famous cycle of religious drama staged by the city's crafts (the mystery plays).

1478

September 1478Edward IV intends to repair the castle at YorkAs a recognition of its important role as a royal residence and gaol, as well as the city's strategic position, Edward IV declared his intention to repair the castle shortly after visiting the city in September 1478.

1480

1480Campaigns into ScotlandWhen he led campaigns into Scotland in 1480-82, troops from York and the nearby Ainsty district formed part of his retinue. The last campaign, in July 1482, saw Berwick-upon-Tweed brought back into English hands after more than twenty years when the castle surrendered on 24 August 1482.

1482

24th June 1482Rumour investigation of 1482On 24 June 1482 a citizen claimed to have overheard someone say that Richard did nothing for the city.

1483

14th February 1483Rumour investigation of 1483On 14-15 February 1483 there was an expression of defiance against Richard III's influence in mayoral elections.

9th April 1483Edward IV diesBefore his death Edward named his brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester, as Protector to his young son and heir, Edward. Edward IV was buried in the chapel of St George in Windsor Castle.

June 1483Richard III requests military aid from YorkSoldiers were sent from York to London in June 1483 following Richard III's request for help against those said to be planning his destruction, the queen and her family, shortly before he claimed the throne on 26 June

6th July 1483Coronation of Richard IIIRichard III was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 6 July 1483.

7th July 1483Royal progress northwardSoon after his magnificent coronation ceremony, Richard went northwards to be seen as king across his realm. The journey culminated in a spectacular reception in York, where the king and his entourage arrived on 29th August 1483.Read more...

24th August 1483Richard III's son created Prince of WalesThe king's son had been created Prince of Wales on 24 August 1483 by his father at Nottingham, less than a week before the royal family arrived in York. This was a traditional title held by a monarch's eldest son and so was a celebration of Richard III's position as king as well as the elevation of his heir. Read more...

28th August 1483Richard III receives gifts on his royal visit to YorkFor his visit to York in 1483 citizens noted on 28 August the collection of £448 towards gifts for the king and queen, including 500 marks in a cup of gold for Richard and £100 of gold in rich plate for his wife.

29th August 1483Richard III arrives in YorkSoon after the magnificent coronation ceremony, Richard III undertook a journey north, culminating in a spectacular reception in York on 29 August.

7th September 1483The Creed play staged to honour the royal visitThe Creed Play was staged on 7 September 1483 as a special honour to mark Richard's visit to York. The play included twelve biblical scenes, including God and Christ enthroned, the nativity, crucifixion and resurrection. Citizens of York paid for the play, which was performed by the Corpus Christi guild.

17th September 1483Richard III reduces York's annual fee farmDuring his visit to York, Richard III called leading citizens to an audience at the Minster chapter house on 17 September 1483 to declare a substantial reduction in the city's annual fee farm.

October 1483Duke of Buckingham rebelsYork's troops joined forces with those protecting Richard's throne against the rebellion of the duke of Buckingham in October 1483.

1484

July 1484Council of the North residency at Sandal CastleThe Council of the North moved to Sandal in Yorkshire by July 20th 1484. In June 1484 Richard had visited Sandal and authorised the building of a new tower in the castle, and in October a new bakery and brewhouse.Read more...

23rd July 1484Richard III commissions repairs at York CastleRichard III agrees a programme of repair and rebuilding at York Castle, commissioned on 23 July 1484.

August 1484Work begins on the Minster CollegeWork began on the Minster college probably in August 1484 and may have been a reaction to the death a few months earlier of the king's son, Edward, at Middleham.Read more...

1485

5th April 1485Richard III combats rumour and seditionThe danger of slander spreading was vigorously confronted by Richard III and he wrote to the city on 5 April 1485 to demand their adherence to his commands against sedition. Citizens were ordered to arrest anyone heard to spread negative words about the king and immediately take down any inflammatory bills and newsletters.

19th August 1485York sends last contingent to support Richard III80 soldiers were sent to defend the king against Henry Tudor, leaving York on 19 August 1485 and probably arriving too late to fight at the battle of Bosworth on 22 August, where Richard was killed.

22nd August 1485Richard III dies at the Battle of BosworthRichard III is killed at the battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485.

1491

14th May 1491Rumour investigation of 1491Open criticism of the former king remained contentious in York. An argument recorded on 14 May 1491 saw John Payntour accuse schoolmaster William Burton of calling Richard a hypocrite and crookback who had been buried like a dog in a ditch.

Choose themes

Choose the themes you wish to view on the timeline from the options below:

Authority in the north

Conspicuous piety

Gifts and reward

Pageant and spectacle

Rumour, opinion, and criticism

Warfare

To explore the themes further, see the linked articles below.

Theme articles

Authority in the North

In the time Richard spent in the north during his youth, he forged some close connections with members of the northern elite. However, he still had a considerable amount of work to do to extend his authority and security in the north as he entered adulthood.

The relationship between a monarch and his cities was enacted through the giving of gifts. Citizens contributed money towards presents as a way of persuading a local lord to act in their favour, or in gratitude for doing so. As a key noble figure in the north during the 1470s and later as king, Richard received numerous gifts from the citizens of York.

Richard spent three weeks in the city of York in August/September 1483 - a stay filled with welcoming speeches, pageants, gift-giving and feasting. The centrepiece of the royal visit was the investiture of his son as Prince of Wales, a lavish event that highlighted the importance of York to the king as well as his son's position in the north.

Richard III's death at the battle of Bosworth was noted by York's civic leaders with great sorrow. The city had nurtured a fruitful relationship with the king, welcoming him in splendid style, providing military support and receiving rewards in return. Yet his popularity across the wider city was ambiguous and glimpses of local views in the civic records highlight that opinion was divided.

Richard III's reign was established, protected and defended with the help of military backing from York and Yorkshire. The supply of fighting men was a critical aspect of Richard's relationship with the county, both as duke of Gloucester and as monarch.